Valentine Kappes (839-1914)

KAPPES, MILLER, WARD, COUER, ANDERS, WIRTH

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 5/15/2006 at 17:44:16

Valentine Kappes was born in Baden, Germany, July 24, 1839, and departed this life March 14, 1914, aged 74 years, 7 months and 29 days old. He came to America with his parents when fifteen years of age and settled in Freeport, Ill.

He enlisted in 1861 as a volunteer in the 3rd. Mo. infantry for a period of three months and re-enlisted in the 4th Missouri calvary for a term of three years or until the close of the war. He served altogether in the service of his country for 3 years and 5 months, when he received an honorable discharge.

He was united in marriage to Miss Malissa Miller, May 6, 1866. To the union were born 14 children, 7 of whom have passed to their reward. In 1870 they moved to Lina,Ill., from where they came to Oelwein in 1897.

He has been a member of the Lutheran church since early boyhood and has lived an honest, consistent Christian life.

He was kind and jovial in disposition and made and retained friends. He loved a joke and enjoyed in giving as well as receiving them.

He was an affectionate husband, a kind father, a loyal citizen and a good neighbor. The beloved wife passed to her reward Feb. 1911, and since that time he has been in declining health.

He leaves to mourn his demise the seven children, Charles, Valentine, Alfred, Katherine, Mrs. Lenora Ward of Oelwein and Henry of Utah, and Mrs. Helen Couer, of Iowa City. Three sisters, Mrs. Floss Anders, of Dubuque; Mrs. Josephine Wirth and Miss Mary Kappes of Freeport, Ill. Other relatives and a host of friends. Mrs. Wirth has been in constant attendance for the past seven months. He has had the best care that loving hands and kind hearts could give.

The last services were held from the home Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by the Masonic order of which he had been a member for many years. The body was interred in the old cemetery by the side of his wife.

from Oelwein Register - March, 1914